Should you’re a Canadian who must renew your passport, there are two issues it is best to know earlier than March 31.
The federal authorities has introduced that most passport and travel document fees will increase at the end of this month, marking the primary worth adjustment since 2013. However buried in the identical announcement is one thing that works in your favour: a long-promised assure that would get your passport processed free of charge is now formally taking place, with a agency begin date.
Here is what’s altering on each fronts.
The price improve
Beginning March 31, functions obtained on or after that date will probably be topic to the brand new charges. For many adults, the distinction is modest:
- 10-year grownup passport: up from $160 to $163.50
- 5-year grownup passport: up from $120 to $122.50
- 5-year baby passport: up from $57 to $58.50
The federal government says the adjustment displays inflation and the rising price of manufacturing safe journey paperwork. Below the Service Charges Act, passport charges will now be up to date yearly going ahead, so this would possibly not simply be a one-time bump.
The free passport assure
That is the half price listening to. Beginning April 1, 2026, in case your full passport utility is not processed inside 30 enterprise days, you may get a full refund mechanically. There are no varieties to fill out or calls to make. If the federal government misses the window, the cash comes again to you with out you having to do something.
As MTL Blog covered last year, the federal authorities first floated this assure again in March 2025 as a part of a broader push to enhance service supply and keep away from a repeat of the 2022 passport disaster. On the time, the coverage lacked a concrete begin date, however that is not the case.
It is price noting that mailing time — for each your utility and the returned passport — does not rely towards the 30-business-day window.
What you are paying for
As a refresher, this is what passport companies at present price earlier than the March 31 improve, together with expedited choices:
- 5-year grownup passport: $120
- 10-year grownup passport: $160
- Expedited (10 enterprise days): add $20
- 48-hour service: add $50
- Similar-day or next-day service: add $110
These processing price add-ons stay unchanged underneath the brand new announcement.
If you wish to get forward of the price improve, functions obtained earlier than March 31 will nonetheless be processed on the present charges.